Cognitive Decline/Dementia

For this issue, Cardiology Today spoke with Editorial Board Member Annabelle Santos Volgman, MD, FACC, FAHA. She is the Madeleine and James McMullen – Carl E. Eybel, MD Chair of Excellence in Clinical Cardiology Professor of Excellence in Clinical Cardiology and the vice chief for academic affairs in the division of cardiology at Rush University Medical Center. She is also the co-founder and medical director of the Rush Heart Center for Women.

Intensive BP reduction in hypertension was associated with greater changes in hippocampal volume, but not any other MRI biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease, compared with standard treatment, according to data published in JAMA Neurology.

Women appear to have greater cognitive reserve but faster cognitive decline vs. men, according to results of a cohort study published in JAMA Network Open.

When examined with an FDA-approved, clinically relevant method, flortaucipir PET scans provided “valuable information” about risk for clinical decline in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment, according to a study.

CV risk factors, particularly hypertension, were linked to impaired brain metabolism tied to cognitive decline and were identifiable at midlife among asymptomatic patients with subclinical atherosclerosis, researchers reported.

Severe cerebral small vessel disease, a common cause of vascular dementia, may be linked to apathy, fatigue and delirium, according to results of a systematic review and meta-analysis published in Lancet Psychiatry.

Severe perivascular space pathology served as a marker of increased risk for cognitive decline and dementia regardless of other markers of small vessel disease, according to findings from a prospective cohort study published in Neurology.

Individuals with visual and/or hearing impairments were at increased risk for cognitive decline and depression, according to results of a cross-sectional study published in JAMA Network Open.

Monitoring of cognitive function may be warranted among middle- and older-aged individuals who sleep for 4 or fewer or 10 or more hours per night, according to results of a pooled cohort study published in JAMA Network Open.

Flu and pneumonia vaccines appeared linked to reduced risk for Alzheimer’s disease, according to data presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2020.